Epipactis helleborine var. youngiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Epipactis helleborine var. youngiana |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Epipactis |
| Species: |
E. helleborine
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| Varietas: |
E. h. var. youngiana
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| Trinomial name | |
| Epipactis helleborine var. youngiana (A. J. Richards & A. F. Porter) Krantz
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| Synonyms | |
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Epipactis helleborine var. youngiana, often called Young's helleborine, is a special type of orchid. It's found only in Great Britain. This plant is considered a variety of a more common orchid, Epipactis helleborine. Sometimes, people have also called it a separate species, Epipactis youngiana.
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About Young's Helleborine
Discovering This Special Orchid
Young's helleborine was first found in 1975 by Tony Porter. Later, in 1982, Tony Porter and A. J. Richards officially described it as a new species. Its scientific name, youngiana, honors Donald Peter Young. He was a scientist who studied Epipactis orchids a lot.
This orchid is part of a group called the Epipactis helleborine species complex. This means it's very closely related to the common E. helleborine. Scientists have used genetic markers (like DNA tests) and found that Young's helleborine is almost identical to the widespread E. helleborine. Because of this, it's now usually seen as a variety of the common species, not a completely separate one.
For a while, people thought Young's helleborine might be a hybrid (a mix) of two other orchids. But now, most experts agree it's simply a variety of E. helleborine.
What Young's Helleborine Looks Like
Young's helleborine is a perennial herb, which means it lives for many years. It usually grows between 15 and 40 centimeters (about 6 to 16 inches) tall.
It has a few small differences from the typical E. helleborine:
- Its lowest leaves are longer and wider.
- These leaves are flat, soft, not ribbed, and feel silky. Their edges are wavy. In contrast, the common E. helleborine has stiff, ribbed leaves with smooth edges.
- When its flowers have color, they are a clear pink. The common type often has a duller pink.
- Parts inside the flower, like the rostellum and anthers, are also slightly different in size and shape.
- The ovary (where seeds develop) is shiny and has a few stiff hairs. The common type's ovary is usually dull with soft hairs or no hairs at all.
Where Young's Helleborine Lives
Young's helleborine was first found in southern Northumberland, near Newcastle upon Tyne. All the places where it was discovered were linked to metal mining.
Similar orchids have also been found in Scotland's Central Belt. These plants grow on "bings," which are large piles of waste from coal mining. You can also find similar plants on sand dunes in South Wales, at Kenfig Burrows. These dunes have been affected by pollution from the nearby Margam steelworks.
Protecting Young's Helleborine
Young's helleborine is considered an endangered species in the United Kingdom. This means it's at high risk of disappearing forever. Because it's so rare, it is protected by law under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This law helps to keep it safe.
